Agriclltlral Research in Ne\\' Hampshire 29 



er heat output. As this result was verv" clear-cut it will be necessarv to 

 carry out basal metabolism measurements under the same conditions to 

 determine the effect of this vitamin on muscular metabolism. 



The effect of vitamin deficiency on food utilization has been given 

 but little stud)' in the past. In our first series on this subject (Tech. Bull. 

 S7) it was shown that digestion, absorption, and metabolizabilit\' of the 

 energy were all depressed, and that protein utilization decreased an aver- 

 age of about 25 per cent due to a lack of vitamin A. This is particularly 

 critical in growth of young calves during the first four or five months. 

 No definite conclusion can be made as yet regarding the effect of vita- 

 min D deficiency on food utilization but there was a definiteK' decreased 

 growth rate on a similar feed intake. Total heat production measure- 

 ments suggest that it mav affect the basal metabolism materially. 



H. A, Keener, N. F. Colovos*, E. G. Ritzman 



Effect of Vitamin D Deficiency on Blood 

 Constituents of Young Calves 



During the entire time of the experiment, from December, 1944, to 

 June, 1945, with the same calves reported on previously, blood samples 

 were obtained weekly for determination of calcium phosphorous and 

 phosphatase levels. These determinations showed striking changes in the 

 phosphatase levels, suggesting a disturbance of normal phosphorous utili- 

 zation. Furthermore, serum calcium also showed a marked decrease. 



A. E. Teeri, H. a. Keener 



Mineral Deficiencies in Livestock Nutrition 



Since early in the spring of 1944, field and laboratory studies have 

 been conducted on a nutritional deficiency in New Hampshire cattle, 

 sheep, and goats, showing one or more of the following symptoms: de- 

 pressed appetite, depraved appetite, constipation or diarrhea, rough hair 

 coat, scaliness of skin, muscular incoordination, gauntness, loss of flesh, 

 pale mucous membranes, decreased milk flow, retarded growth, and 

 sometimes death. It has been found that this deficiency responds favor- 

 ably to the feeding of cobalt. 



Cobaltous sulphate has been furnished to treat animals on approxi- 

 mately 200 farms scattered for the most part throughout the southern 

 half of New Hampshire. Cobaltous sulphate has also been furnished to 

 several veterinarians and feed dealers who have also used it with very 

 favorable results. 



Responses as shown by recovery of normal appetites and increases 

 in weight were usually observed in from three to five days, even when 

 animals had been "off" feed for many months. General appearance 

 usualh- returned to normal within a few weeks. 



Information furnished by livestock men indicates that this condition 

 has been prevalent for a great many years and that it is wide-spread 

 throughout the state. Preliminary studies indicate that the bovine has a 



"■Qn Military leave. 



